Sitting Fox fails to deliver

[Lt.Mudge]

Ordered a kit in August, but it's still incomplete, Owner says it's on the way, but he bungled the address on the 2nd shipment. It's frustrating because I really wanted this kit but now I have to find a new vendor and start all over. Venting and milling sights/ installing breech plug is beyond my skill set. Avoid Sitting Fox at all hazards.

 

[olskool]

don't feel alone, ray at sitting fox has 'out foxed' more people than you,,,,,,,,,,,,,

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

ray at sitting fox has 'out foxed' more people than you

Grifting Fox?

 

[Tumbledown]

Venting? As in drilling a touch hole? Milling- cutting dovetails? These are basic things you will need to do with many kits. They may seem complicated but are really simple skills to learn.

Unfortunately, the incomplete kit issue is a common problem in the hobby. Some suppliers can take years to fill an order. It's one reason Kibler is so successful.

 

[Eric Krewson]

Every historically correct kit on the market except a Kibler requires the skills you claim you don't have, so it would be best for you to buy a Kibler fowler kit or a gun that is already finished.

I have bought several unfinished kits that others bought and found out they didn't have the skills to complete, one was a Track of the Wolf Haines kit, the other was a Kibler SMR kit. Lots of folk see the word "kit" and assume that the kit will be like a CVA or Traditions slap together and shoot kit but find out that they are in over their head with what they bought.

 

[Lt.Mudge]

Every historically correct kit on the market except a Kibler requires the skills you claim you don't have, so it would be best for you to buy a Kibler fowler kit or a gun that is already finished.

I have bought several unfinished kits that others bought and found out they didn't have the skills to complete, one was a Track of the Wolf Haines kit, the other was a Kibler SMR kit. Lots of folk see the word "kit" and assume that the kit will be like a CVA or Traditions slap together and shoot kit but find out that they are in over their head with what they bought.

Think I'll give them a look

 

[Dusty_Traveler]

Think I'll give them a look

I do not think you will be disappointed.

 

[IanH]

I have bought several unfinished kits that others bought and found out they didn't have the skills to complete, one was a Track of the Wolf Haines kit,

Me too. Fancy wood and all the upgrades from 20 years ago. Unfortunately he had inlet the breech and tang (quite well, I might add) and didn't know to reshape the tail and thin the square, flared tang first, so I had to get creative with a carving design. I also had to set the barrel back and shorten the tang 3/16" so the flash hole would clear the breech plug.

I mention this because I was advised by a friend to buy a Kibler kit for my first "build" so that I would learn the PROPER relationship of all the parts to each other before trying to figure it out on my own, and that turned out to be sage advice that I would pass on to anyone else starting out. I read the usual recommended books and built several from boards after that without issue. Then I did the pre-inlet Haines kit from Track and have ZERO interest in precarved/pre-inlet kits after that. Things are not put in the right place and aren't quite the right shape, but you're mostly stuck with it. More trouble than it's worth to work from a pre-inlet unless it has a return address on the shipping label that starts with "Jim Kibler".

I haven't assembled kits from Clay or Jim Chambers so I can't speak to those, they may be just fine but will definitely need inletting and shaping skills and an array of tool to finish.

If Kibler doesn't offer the style you want, buy one of his kits anyway and put it together. Watch his assembly videos. Buy a copy of "recreating the American longrifle" and read it thoroughly. By then you will have most of the knowledge and some of the tools needed to make what you really want from scratch. You will be able to buy a board, lock, barrel, and all of the hardware and furniture needed from wherever you can find them because you will have already had your hands on every piece required to make a longrifle and know what is required. The book will show you the tools needed to put it all together.

 

[Lt.Mudge]

Me too. Fancy wood and all the upgrades from 20 years ago. Unfortunately he had inlet the breech and tang (quite well, I might add) and didn't know to reshape the tail and thin the square, flared tang first, so I had to get creative with a carving design. I also had to set the barrel back and shorten the tang 3/16" so the flash hole would clear the breech plug.

I mention this because I was advised by a friend to buy a Kibler kit for my first "build" so that I would learn the PROPER relationship of all the parts to each other before trying to figure it out on my own, and that turned out to be sage advice that I would pass on to anyone else starting out. I read the usual recommended books and built several from boards after that without issue. Then I did the pre-inlet Haines kit from Track and have ZERO interest in precarved/pre-inlet kits after that. Things are not put in the right place and aren't quite the right shape, but you're mostly stuck with it. More trouble than it's worth to work from a pre-inlet unless it has a return address on the shipping label that starts with "Jim Kibler".

I haven't assembled kits from Clay or Jim Chambers so I can't speak to those, they may be just fine but will definitely need inletting and shaping skills and an array of tool to finish.

If Kibler doesn't offer the style you want, buy one of his kits anyway and put it together. Watch his assembly videos. Buy a copy of "recreating the American longrifle" and read it thoroughly. By then you will have most of the knowledge and some of the tools needed to make what you really want from scratch. You will be able to buy a board, lock, barrel, and all of the hardware and furniture needed from wherever you can find them because you will have already had your hands on every piece required to make a longrifle and know what is required. The book will show you the tools needed to put it all together.

I simply want a Gemmer Hawken lefty flinter. I'm a realist considering my skill set though, I'd hate to booger something up...

 

[sturmkatze]

I simply want a Gemmer Hawken lefty flinter. I'm a realist considering my skill set though, I'd hate to booger something up...

It takes some practice to learn a new skill. You can do it.

 

[BobELee]

I ordered a kit from Sitting Fox and it was complete and on time. I was happy with everything I got. With that said it was no Kibler. It is not a starter kit and I am going slow so I don't mess up. I've been at it about six months. I have read other complaints about sitting fox but my experience was positive.

 

[Spikebuck]

I have read other complaints about sitting fox but my experience was positive.

I think it's very hit and miss depending on who he farms the work out to.

Years ago I ordered a finished fowling piece through Sitting Fox. Had a couple phone calls prior to placing the order and nothing was ever said to me that the work was being farmed out. Promised dates came and went numerous times and finally I was threatening cancellation. The gun arrived with a builder name I never heard of and couldn't find info on. It was clear it was pretty much an amatuer production. It fired, but had numerous flaws and a surface crack in the wood going back from the breach. I called Sitting Fox and the response I got was: "Well that's what you get when you rush us." What?!!! I didn't set multiple missed promise dates...they did.

Net...never did and never will ever consider Sitting Fox again for anything.

 

[M. De Land]

Every historically correct kit on the market except a Kibler requires the skills you claim you don't have, so it would be best for you to buy a Kibler fowler kit or a gun that is already finished.

I have bought several unfinished kits that others bought and found out they didn't have the skills to complete, one was a Track of the Wolf Haines kit, the other was a Kibler SMR kit. Lots of folk see the word "kit" and assume that the kit will be like a CVA or Traditions slap together and shoot kit but find out that they are in over their head with what they bought.

Yeah, especially the TOTW kits ! I had to wait several months to get the stock quality I ordered and I didn't think it had the quality of tiger stripping I had paid extra for. It did have all the furniture ordered . The lock, loading rod and barrel mortise's were cut very cleanly and placed accurately though.

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

More like ing fox if you ask me.

 

[tenngun]

My experience with sitting Fox was very positive, and on par with track and log cabin.
I would buy from them again

 

[akroguy]

Bought one kit from SF. Communications were slow and a bit confusing, but I did get it with everything in the box in good shape. Parts were no better or worse than advertised. There really is no comparison to Kibler's kits. They are unmatched anywhere.

 

[bajabuc]

A used Mountain Rifle is pretty cheap...don't have the skills...buy the complete gun

 

[GreenMtnHunter]

More than a decade ago, I bought my first two kits (.32 cal pistol and S.Mtn) from JEDEDIAH STARR CO. I was lucky to get one of the last 42” swamped barrels from GMB, which they shipped Jed. Starr for the barrel inletting - as I said, it was my very first kit. The inletting was “rough” but I was worried about being able to get everything in the correct place, and it was perfect in that regard. I built the pistol first, as a learning step, and then tackled the rifle. I have continued to order parts from them and I am pleased with their C.S. and the quality of the parts. I’m certainly no expert, nor am I experienced in “historically correct”, but I am happy to own a couple pieces that I built myself and continue to enjoy. After that experience, I focused on finding, restoring/rebuilding and reshaping abused and neglected TC Renegades and Hawkens. If I had been smart enough to buy more of the .32 barrels, I’d be happy to buy another kit from J.Starr.

 

[mikesto44]

Shifty Fox is a hit an miss operation. Period..! You might get what you pay for and you might not.! Kibler for an accurate easy kit to put together is the very best for newbies by far. Then Chambers for more learning curve experience. After that I've had good experience with TOTW and Petonica .
The easiest is Kiblers Woodsrunner. It takes longer to unpack the box. Than it does to finish the gun in the white...lol

 

[oreclan]

I ordered a kit from Sitting Fox and it was complete and on time. I was happy with everything I got. With that said it was no Kibler. It is not a starter kit and I am going slow so I don't mess up. I've been at it about six months. I have read other complaints about sitting fox but my experience was positive.

I ordered a Buccaneer musket from Sitting Fox and got a canoe gun instead!
Sent it back and received what I ordered.
It was blamed on the Michigan to Florida thing